Honorable Mention / 2015 / Book Proposal (series Only) / Documentary

Iron Plate City

  • Photographer
    Tsung-Heng, Chen, Taiwan

The original panoramic photos are super high resolution to show the details of every
corner of the city.

Taipei is a metropolis which has a population of about 6 million. People are crowded onto
a narrow hinterland. The Housing problem is more serious than other cities. While the
economy has flourished, the quality of housing has not improved much because of an
imbalance in land policy. Due to unequal distribution of wealth, unique and absurd real
estate taxation, failure in urban renewal policy, defective renting market and some other
factors, residents have to suffer unreasonably high prices but a low quality living
environment. In order to earn more living space, almost every household constructs an iron
plate hut on the roof which is actually not allowed by law. The birds-eye-view of the city
displays the extreme contrast between old and new development throughout the metropolis.
When night falls, the city is enveloped in an indigo sky, showing the beauty and sorrow of
itself.